Thyroid Diseases

Graves' Disease With Normal TSH

05/15/2006

Question:

I`m a female, 51 years old. For 5 years now I have problems with my eyes and sight. I went to a doctor and he said that it`s a problem with my eye muscle and he gave a medication. A year later I was diagnosed with Graves' disease. I did a blood test and I have high antibodies on TSH, TSH is normal, and my thyroid gland is functioning normal. How can have Graves'? And what is it? Is it some kind of auto-immune system disorder and how can it be treated?

Answer:

Graves' disease is a disorder in which the body's own immune system attacks the thyroid gland. This attack stimulates the thyroid to make too much thyroid hormone. In addition, some patients with Graves' disease also get an autoimmune attack against the tissues behind the eyes. This can cause double vision, or can make one or both eyes bulge forward. Usually patients get the thyroid disease alone or the thyroid disease plus the eye disease. However, occasionally we see patients who have only the eye disease. The thyroid disease may come later, or there may never be a thyroid problem.

The treatments for Graves' Eye Disease can have a lot of side effects and don't always work very well. Consequently, they are usually reserved for patients whose vision is threatened by the eye disease. Your eye doctor and endocrinologist would be the best people with whom to discuss the potential risks and potential benefits of treatment for the eye disease. The treatments include surgery, radiation therapy to the tissues behind the eyes, and high doses of steroids.

Please note: only your personal physician or other health professional you consult can best advise you on matters of your health based on your medical history, your family medical history, your medication history, and how information from any of these databases may apply to you. Neither University of Cincinnati (NetWellness) nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this web site shall be liable for any damages arising out of access to or use of this web site, or any errors or omissions in the content thereof. (More)